Addiction Description, Characteristics, & Treatment

Alcohol Use Disorder is referred to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and alcoholism. The most common types of drug addiction include substances like opioids (oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heroin), cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis (marijuana), alcohol, and benzodiazepines (such as Valium and Xanax). These drugs are prevalent due to their availability, potency, and the euphoric effects they induce, making them highly addictive and, in some cases, expensive. Drug addiction, clinically recognized as substance use disorder, is a chronic, relapsing brain condition that compels an individual to seek and use drugs despite adverse consequences.

• Over time, these drugs alter brain chemistry and circuitry, leading to dependency and addiction.
• Physically, stimulants raise heart rate and blood pressure, which leads to cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, as mentioned in a study published by the American Heart Association in 2021.
• The DSM-5 doesn’t currently include other behavioral addictions due to a lack of research on them.
• Addiction symptoms are those that indicate a person may be addicted to a substance.
• Research shows dependency forms within 2-4 weeks, particularly with high doses or extended use.

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When you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t resist the urge to use them, no matter how much harm the drugs may cause. The earlier you get treatment for drug addiction (also called substance use disorder) the more likely you are to avoid some of the more dire consequences of the disease. Substance abuse leads to a range of health issues, from short-term effects like impaired judgment and coordination to long-term consequences such as heart disease, liver damage, and mental health disorders. The causes of substance abuse are multi-faceted, ranging from genetics and mental health to social influences and environmental factors.

Economic Effects of Substance Abuse

• Non-nicotine medications such as bupropion and varenicline have also been effective in helping individuals quit by targeting the brain’s nicotine receptors.
• While shopping addiction, sex addiction, and exercise addiction are often noted as behavioral addictions, the DSM-5 does not officially recognize these as distinct disorders.
• Early exposure to substances can create a foundation for future substance abuse, as it interferes with brain development and reinforces patterns of substance use as a coping mechanism.
• But if you already developed an addiction, it is advisable to seek professional help and treatment for your drug problem.

Understanding these distinct phases helps identify where someone might be in their journey with substance use. A drug is any substance that alters physiological or psychological functions when introduced into the body. Long-term recovery support, including aftercare programs and sober living environments, plays an integral role in sustaining sobriety.

• The first step towards treatment is acknowledging that you have a drug abuse problem in the first place.
• Symptoms include distorted reality, visual hallucinations, altered sounds, anxiety, paranoia, delusional thinking, nausea, dizziness, and palpitations.
• This tolerance leads to increased usage and eventually drives individuals to illegal opioids, such as heroin, to satisfy cravings.
• People with addictions often carry stigma about their behavior, leading to shame and fear of seeking help.

It works by slowing down the activities of the brain and putting the body in a state of relaxation. There are different types of drugs in the market, and each type of drug causes different kinds of effects in your body. Also, many people start using drugs as self-medication or to cope with stress. They think that people who get addicted to drugs are either not willing to quit or lack the willpower to do so. Holistic treatments are integrated into other treatment programs or used as supplementary treatments, with the duration varying based on individual needs. The advantages of holistic treatment include its comprehensive approach to health, addressing physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Symptoms and Causes

If we don’t know how to process our struggles and face our challenges, we turn to temporary escapes—porn, alcohol, weed, food, gambling, social media, and other compulsive behaviors. Strong family connections and open communication can help prevent substance abuse. Parents and caregivers should talk to their children about the dangers of substance use and set clear expectations regarding drug and alcohol consumption. As part of our desire to serve the public and participating treatment providers, the NAATP has developed a regularly updated Addiction Industry Directory (AID). This directory includes NAATP members in good standing and distinguished Accredited Providers who agree to abide by our stringent. Environmental factors, particularly in childhood and adolescence, can heavily influence a person’s likelihood of developing substance abuse issues.

The study found that adolescents were more likely than adults to use inhalants (2.7% vs 0.4%), with female adolescents showing higher rates than males (3.2% vs 2.3%). Most users (59%) reported using inhalants 1-11 days in the past year, with felt-tip pens/markers being the most commonly used substance. Substance use disorder can negatively affect a person’s relationships, finances, employment, and other aspects of their life. Addiction can significantly impact your health, relationships and overall quality of life.

What types of drugs do people commonly abuse?

The purchase, sale, and nonmedical consumption of all the aforementioned drugs are illegal, and these psychotropic drugs can be obtained only on the black market. Alcohol, for instance, can be legally purchased throughout much of the world, despite its high potential for abuse. Also, dependence on prescribed drugs is not uncommon, especially with tranquilizers and hypnotics. Drug addiction develops when repeated drug use alters the brain’s reward system, leading to compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences. Initially, drugs trigger a surge of dopamine, reinforcing pleasurable experiences and encouraging repeated use. Over time, the brain adapts, leading to tolerance, where higher doses are needed to achieve the same effect.

Often, much more difficult and time-consuming than recovery from the physical aspects of drug dependency is psychological addiction. For people who may have less severe drug use disorder, the symptoms of psychological addiction may be able to be managed in an outpatient treatment program. Like most other mental health problems, drug use disorders have no single cause and are not the result of a lack of discipline or self-control.

• The term addiction is used to describe compulsive drug-seeking behaviors that continue in spite of negative outcomes, but it is important to note that addiction is not considered an official diagnosis in the DSM-5.
• The economic burden of substance abuse is substantial, with direct and indirect costs borne by individuals, families, communities, and governments.
• Support from organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) offers a community-based approach to recovery, emphasizing peer support and accountability.
• The advantages of holistic treatment include its comprehensive approach to health, addressing physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• In its most intense form the user becomes obsessed with the drug and focuses virtually all his interest and activity on obtaining and using it.
• Common indicators are mood swings, neglecting responsibilities, unexplained health problems, and social withdrawal.
• The misuse of prescription stimulants, antidepressants, sedatives, steroids, or other drugs during adolescence negatively impacts brain and body development​​.

Financial difficulties are also common, as resources are diverted towards sustaining the addiction or dealing with legal troubles. In terms of emotional effects, family members often feel a range of emotions from guilt and shame to anger and fear. Families experience increased conflict, mistrust, and emotional distress as they cope with a loved one’s addictive behaviors. The psychological factors that cause addiction include specific vulnerabilities like low self-esteem, impulsivity, sensation-seeking tendencies, and poor coping skills. These psychological factors directly contribute to how addiction develops and takes hold.

Many people, but not all, start using a drug or first engage in an activity voluntarily. Addiction is an inability amphetamine addiction treatment to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior even though it may cause psychological or physical harm. Helping families and individuals worldwide find hope from addiction and mental illness. This kind of treatment is designed to help the family, particularly in addressing youth problems and disorders. Read our comprehensive blog on drug addiction in India to learn more about this problem.

Symptoms include distorted reality, visual hallucinations, altered sounds, anxiety, paranoia, delusional thinking, nausea, dizziness, and palpitations. Causes include curiosity-driven experimentation, the desire to enhance spiritual experiences, escape from reality, and psychological dependence due to stress or peer influence. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) warns that misusing prescription stimulants, antidepressants, sedatives, or other drugs during adolescence negatively impacts the development of the brain and body. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is defined as the chronic use of opioids that causes clinically significant distress or impairment according to Dydyk AM, Jain NK, Gupta M’s 2024 study on Opioid Use Disorder in StatPearls. Consider how a social drinker can become intoxicated, get behind the wheel of a car, and quickly turn a pleasurable activity into a tragedy that affects many lives. Occasional drug use, such as misusing an opioid to get high, can have similarly disastrous effects, including impaired driving and overdose.

Inhalant use is more prevalent among adolescents, with significant risks for long-term brain damage​​. It is diagnosed when an individual’s drug use leads to significant impairment or distress, impacting multiple areas of their life, including physical and mental health, relationships, work, and overall well-being. The types of drug addiction include alcohol addiction, stimulant addiction, cannabis addiction, opioid addiction, sedative-hypnotic addiction, hallucinogen addiction, and inhalant addiction. If you experience withdrawal symptoms, seek medical attention for support with withdrawal management. Drug misuseis when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t. You might take more than the regular dose of pills or use someone else’s prescription.

Substance abuse is often linked to an individual’s struggle to manage stress or emotional pain, underscoring the importance of developing healthy coping skills. Addiction treatment is highly personalized and often requires the support of the individual’s community or family. If a person experiences a substance overdose, those around them should seek emergency medical assistance immediately. A person who has recovered from an overdose may want to seek professional help to treat their addiction.